A crucial step in starting your search for a new home is having a clear idea of your financial situation.
By getting a handle on your income, expenses and debts, you'll have a much better idea of what you can
afford and how much you'll need to borrow.

For lenders to verify this information, though, they're going to need to look at your financial records.
It is also important to remember that you should include records for each person who will be an owner of
the house. So before you even visit the bank, make sure you'll be able to provide copies of these
important documents:

Paycheck Stubs

Remember that lenders are most interested in your average income. Not only will they want to see
this month's paycheck, but also how much you've been making for the past two years. Steady employment
is also more attractive to lenders, so if you've been hopping from job to job, be prepared to discuss
the reasons why.

Bank Statements

In order to qualify you for a loan, most lenders will also ask you for copies of your bank statements.
Ideally, they'd like to see a steady history of savings--or at the very least, that you're not
bouncing checks every month.

Tax Records

It's always a good idea to save copies of your tax returns, especially if you're self-employed. If you
own your own business, it's important to note that lenders generally consider your income as the amount
you paid taxes on--not the gross income of the business.

Dividends and Investments

Lenders will usually consider long-term investment dividends, as well as your investment portfolio,
when evaluating your income.

Alimony/Child Support

If you receive steady payments as part of a divorce settlement or for child support, you can also
include this as part of your gross income. Just remember that lenders will want to see a copy of
your divorce/court settlement verifying the amount of the payments.

Credit Report

Virtually every lender will want to see a copy of your credit report as part of the loan application
process. The report lists all of your long-term debts, as well as your payment history. In general,
they will require you to pay for the credit report (approximately $50), but if you have a recent
copy, they may accept that instead.